Committee Information
GET INVOLVED!
A PRIMER ON THE OBERLIN COLLEGE
COMMITTEE SYSTEM
Oberlin College has a great number of committees students can serve on. This structure is one of the best ways that students can get involved with campus decisions and politics. This year, senate is making an extra push to place students on as many committees as we can!
Some of these committees are student only; others are faculty-student or staff-faculty-student committees. Students who sit on committees are full voting members of those committees, with all the rights that faculty members have--including the rights to get on and change the agenda, make proposals, and of course vote for or against decisions.
If anyone has additional information on any standing committees or newly formed committe, please e-mail senate@oberlin.edu
"STUDENT AFFAIRS" COMMITTEES
Student Finance Committee
An all-student committee that allocated funds from the Student Activity Fee to all student clubs and organizations. The SFC reviews all club budgets in the Spring, makes allocations, and handles budget appeals in the fall. It also has ad-hoc funds that it distributes during the year in response to applications.
Interested: Contact sfc@oberlin.edu
Judicial Board
The all-student board that hears most judicial cases resulting from student misconduct on campus. It has the power to make its own decision about any sanction less than suspension, and can make a recommendation for anything more severe to the community Board. Seeking upstanding students with a passion for fairness.
Interested: Contact the Judicial Coordinator, Adrian Batista.
Community Board
Monitors the judicial decisions of the Judicial Board or Hearing Officers and serves as the appeal board for these decisions. Serves as the board of original jurisdiction for cases deemed to involve obstruction or disruption of the essential operations of the College or where summary action has been taken against a student by the President or Dean of Student Life and Services. Meetings are usually infrequent. Legislation calls for 4 members and 2 alternates from the General Faculty, 3 students and 2 alternates from the student body.
Interested, contact the Convener, Michael Henle.
Student Honor Committee
An all-student committee that reviews Honor Code Infractions.
Interested? Contact ohonor@oberlin.edu
Forum Board
An all-student committee that disperses funds specifically for speaker honorariums, the Forum Board is an supplemental source of funding to the SFC.
Student Union Board
A student-faculty-staff board that oversees the services of the Student Union. Interested? Talk to Tina Zwegat (Tina.Zwegat@oberlin.edu)
Joint Chartering Sub-Committee (JCSC)
A sub-committee of the Student Union Board that reviews student organization charters before they go to Student Senate. Has members from Student Union Board, the SFC, and Student Senate.
Housing and Dining Committee
Makes decisions relating to Residential Education and Dining Services. Chair: Molly Tyson
Housing Sub-Committee
Makes advisory decisions to Residential Education.
Dining Sub-Committee
Makes advisory decisions Campus Dining Services.
PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEES:
Purchasing Committee
The Purchacing Committee makes recommendations to the President's Office on products that the college should/should not purchace in order to comply with its purchacing code. The Code aims to prevent Oberlin College from inadvertently supporting companies that use slave labor, sweatshops, or engage in unethical business practices and labor relations.
Interested: Contact Chris Howell
Ecological Purchasing Committee
(CURRENTLY IN FORMATION)
The Ecological Purchasing Committee will make recommendations to the President's Office so that Oberlin's purchases can comply with our newly adopted (2004) environmental policy.
Socially Responsible Investment Committee (SRI)
(CURRENTLY IN FORMATION)
The SRI Committee will meet with the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees and makes recommendations on proxy votes. As a shareholder in many major corporations, Oberlin College can cast proxy votes in shareholder polls. The SRI committee will aim to make sure that Oberlin's votes are socially responsible.
COMMITTEES OF THE GENERAL FACULTY
General Faculty Planning Committee (GFPC)
The GFPC is made up of elected members of the General Faculty and two students, one of whom is the Student Senate Liason. This year (2005-06) it is making implementation of the Strategic Plan its main priority, with the advice of the Strategic Planning Working Groups. Chair: Al MacKay, Provost
Athletics
The committee serves as a liaison between the General Faculty and the Department of Athletics & Physical Education. It acts in an advisory capacity in matters regarding intercollegiate athletics. The committee makes athletic policy recommendations both to the Department and to the GF, considers all athletic schedules prior to submitting them to the GF for approval, and stands ready to respond to requests for guidance in matters of athletics from either the Department or the GF. Meetings are usually monthly. Membership of the GF Athletics Committee includes 3 student members. Could use some back-up student members in case any of the above students cannot or decide not to continue. It would be good to have some juniors as well as seniors to provide continuity from year-to-year. Those with some interest and experience with athletics and physical education, not necessarily varsity athletes, would be most welcome. A mix of students (varsity athlete, club sport athlete, non athlete who enjoys sports, etc.) would be best.
College Public Schools
Seeks to foster mutually beneficial interaction between Oberlin College and the Oberlin Public Schools, to oversee volunteer programs with the Oberlin Public Schools, and to serve as an advisory body for issues of concern raised by members of the College or the Oberlin Public Schools community.
Chair: Trubek
EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
Oversees educational technology at Oberlin. Serves as an advisory body to the Director of Computing, and makes recommendations for priorities in spending and future academic directions for technology. The director of Computing and representatives from the Library and the divisional Deans' offices are ex officio members. the faculty membership consists of 2 from each A&S division and 2 from the Conservatory. 2 students are also members.
FELLOWSHIPS
Nominates students for Fulbright, Luce, Marshall, Watson and other awards. Reviews applications and conducts interviews mostly in October and November.
Chair: Beinecke
HEALTH PLAN BOARD
Oversees student Health Plan and Psychological Services and organizes health education programs. Meets monthly. The Board has 5 student members and 5 General Faculty members. The Dean of Student Life and Services, the Medical Coordinator and the Director of Psychological Services are ex officio nonvoting members of the Board.
HONORARY DEGREES
Receives nominations for honorary degrees and the Award for Distinguished Service to the Community and makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Meets three to four times in the first semester and once or twice in the second semester. Student Membership: 3 senior class officers.
LESBIAN, GAY, AND BISEXUAL CONCERNS (LGBT Concerns)
Established by the General Faculty in December 1990 to suggest and oversee educational programs and recommend policy changes where needed. Rifkin, convener
LIBRARY
Meets with the professional staff to discuss policies and concerns of the Library and to convey reactions of the College community to its operation and services with a view to strengthening the contributions of the Library to the institution. Regular monthly meetings and additional ones as required.
Wojital, Chair
MARTIN LECTURESHIP
Invites the annual Charles Beebe Martin Lecturer in Classics and plans the events surrounding his/her visit. Meets infrequently except during the week of lectures.
MEAD-SWING LECTURESHIP
Invites annually a distinguished speaker to the campus in the field of religion, history or science. Meets twice each semester.
OVERCOMING BARRIERS IN INSTRUCTION & EDUCATION (OBIE)
Established by the General Faculty in May 1990 to identify educational or institutional barriers which discourage differently-abled students, faculty or staff from full participation in the life of the Oberlin College community and to oversee the elimination of these obstacles.
Jane Boomer, chair
RELIGIOUS LIFE
Advises and consults with the Office of Chaplains' staff. Meets monthly during the academic year. Membership includes faculty, staff and student members of Jewish, Catholic and Protestant backgrounds, with student membership reflecting as fully as possible the range of religious concerns among the student body. Meets monthly during the academic year.
Abe Socher, chair
STANDING COMMITTEE ON PLURALISM AND EQUALITY (SCOPE)
Charged with answering the question of what can be done at Oberlin to maintain, strengthen and improve its legislated commitment to minorities and to foster richer and more meaningful patterns of integration and understanding between and among minority students, programs and interests, and those of the larger community. Membership is composed of 4 administrators, 4 faculty members and 4 students. Meets twice monthly for 1-1/2 hours.
Eric Estes (MRC), chair
STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
Serves in advisory capacity to the President and the Director of Financial Aid on matters of policy relating to the financial aid program of the College. Meets three or four times a year.
STUDENT LIFE
Reviews all legislation from the student government and passes it on to the General Faculty for information and/or action. Attempts to stay abreast of developments in student life on the campus. Meets about once a month.
Michael Henle, chair
Winter Term Committee
The Winter Term Committee has three seats for students. The Committee takes applications from faculty for Group Project Grants as well as Individual Project Grant applications from students and decides which projects are worthy of the grant money. The Committee also sponsors the Winter Term Fair which is held the first Monday after fall break. This year it is on October 31. I need one student to sit on the winter term committee. No specialized experience required (though of course it would be helpful to have someone who has completed several winter terms). I'm waiting for one more faculty member, at which time I will try to determine when the committee will meet.
Chair: Brian Alegant
COMMITTEES OF THE COLLEGE FACULTY
Educational Plans and Policies Committee (EPPC)
One of the most important committees at Oberlin, the EPPC reviews curricular programs, professor tenure, and departmental creation and oversight.
Academic Standing
Reviews Academic Standing Policies Al Poterfield, chair
Admissions and Relations to Secondary Schools
Advises and hears reports from the Admissions Department.
Ijiri Yumi, Chair
ADVISING
Monitors compliance with distribution guidelines, oversees academic advising and will make recommendations to the College Faculty as it seems appropriate.
Kathryn Stuart, chair
COMMITTEE ON TEACHING
Serves as a support for all faculty, providing advice and resources on teaching methods, approaches, and materials, and working to maintain the high-level of teaching effectiveness at Oberlin.
Harlan Wilson, chair
DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAM
Responsible for providing information and coordination for the academic advisors of Double Degree students.
Ellen Sayles, chair
INDIVIDUAL MAJOR
Evaluates and approves student Individual Major proposals according to the guidelines set forth in the I.M. Handbook and the College catalogue. Meets once a month during the academic year. Honors proposals are also evaluated and arranged for with the assistance of the Honors Committee.
Clovis White, chair
INSTITUTIONAL ANIMAL CARE, AND USE (IACU)
Oversees Oberlin's program and facilities for the humane care and use of animals in research and teaching. All federally-funded research involving the use of animals must be approved in advance by the IACUC.
OFF-CAMPUS STUDY
Processes requests for off-campus study in accordance with the document entitled "Procedures for Awarding Student Academic Leaves of Absence." Committee is composed of 4 faculty, 2 students and the Associate Dean of Students responsible for processing leave requests.Instuitutional Review Board Mayer, Steve, chair
Modern Languages Advisory Board
Forman, Arlene chair
Quanitivative Proficiency
Danenberg-Oberlin-in-London
Plans and administers an interdisciplinary program of study in London. Eight members are called for in the legislation representing all three divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music, including at least 1 member of the English Department and 2 students. March Blecher, chair
Multicultual studies
Implements and oversees the cultural diversity requirement. Encourages multi-cultural initiatives in the curriculum.
COMMITTEES OF THE CONSERVATORY FACULTY
ACADEMIC STANDING
Reviews the academic progress of students twice a year. Students with deficient records are usually placed on academic probation, suspended, or dismissed. Student members of the committee do not participate in the review of individual students. Major meetings occur in mid-January and late June.
ADMISSIONS
Advises on Conservatory admissions policies and procedures and studies problems related to admissions as they arise. Meets several times each semester.
DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAM
Responsible for providing information and coordination for the academic advisors of Double Degree Students.
EDUCATIONAL POLICY
Acts on matters of educational policy in the Conservatory and recommends Curriculum Enrichment Grant proposals. Meets weekly. Composition: the 10 divisional directors (or their designated representatives) together with the Dean and Associate and Assistant Deans.
GRADUATE STUDIES
Responsible for all graduate degree programs in the Conservatory, their curricula and interrelationships and admissions policy. Meets several times a year.
HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
Oversees and coordinates aspects of the Conservatory curriculum relating to the historical performance practice. Meets several times annually as needed.
INDIVIDUAL MAJORS
Reviews applications from students for individual majors leading to the BFA degree. Meets infrequently in response to requests.
NEW MUSIC
Selects guest artists, composers, or lecturers; approves music to be performed; acts as research body for new music. Membership selected by New Music Program.
SPECIAL AWARDS and HONORS RECITALS
Administers and/or supervises the various methods used for the selection of award recipients in the Conservatory. Meets infrequently in first semester and three to four times in the second.